UST Crew heads to Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia
The 70th annual Dad Vail Regatta will be held on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pa. The UST Crew Team takes its top boats to the elite Dad Vail Regatta, the largest collegiate regatta in the United States. Thousands of student athletes compete from more than 100 colleges and universities across North America.
The varsity men's team is taking the fastest 4+ that has ever rowed for St. Thomas. Jim Portmann, Jon Athmann, Dima Koshevy, Kyle Smisek, coxed by Chelsea Cook continued their undefeated season last weekend with a victory over their rivals from the D1 rowing club at the University of Minnesota. Spencer Nelson and Jon Meyer are racing a pair at the renowned regatta, hoping to continue their successful season after their victory against University of Oklahoma and a third-place medal in Omaha.
The women's team is bringing its varsity eight. After days and days of seat racing, the women's team has optimized its boat speed with the best possible lineup: Mary Hammer, Clare Naughton, Eve Commerford, Shelby Lieffers, Maya Brandl, Andrea Peterson, Shannon Russell and Kirsten Grothe, coxed by Amanda Nomsen. The women's team hopes to combine its small boat success to the 8+, which is the choice boat in collegiate rowing.
Accompanying the UST Crew Team on its first Philadelphia trip is the women's novice 4+. Caitlin O'Leary, Holly Jenniges, Danielle Assie and Margaret Heitkamp, coxed by Sarah Hansen, are going to experience the full intensity that the rowing world has to offer by racing other novice teams from around the nation.
All the students will take off the weekend before finals to represent UST in Philadelphia. The first heats begin Friday morning, with semifinals and finals on Saturday.
